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SAINT-VINCENT TOURNANTE DE CHASSAGNE MONTRACHET SATURDAY JANUARY 30, 2010
Even the sun turned out yesterday to admire all the hard work the villagers of Chassagne-Montrachet had put into preparing this year’s Saint-Vincent Tournante.
Perfect down to the last detail, the organisation was more than a match for the cold (-3° at 8 o’clock in the morning). For 15 euros, visitors were able to buy a wine-tasting pack with six wine coupons: five white and one red.
Whether Saint Vincent personally decided to answer everyone’s prayers, no one will ever know. Still, it’s a fact that, after Friday’s rain, the weather turned out fine; and the opening procession of the 72nd Saint-Vincent Tournante marched through Chassagne-Montrachet in the bright, if cold, January sunshine, what little snow there was falling during the church service.
A mass was celebrated jointly by Mgr. Minnerath, Archbishop of Dijon, and Mgr. Thomas in front of a score of priests and many public figures, including the region’s prefect, the presidents of the regional and general councils – François Patriat and François Sauvadet respectively - , French Assembly members Alain Suguenot and Jean-Paul Anciaux, as well as the head of Burgundy’s gendarmes, Colonel Jean-Robert Bauquis. Then, before the festivities got into their customary Rabelaisian swing, there was a special tribute to the old winegrowers, venerable members of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin.
Wines :
MÂCON-IGE VIEILLES VIGNES 2006 TASTEVINÉ
Comprising some 205 hectares, the appellation Mâcon-Villages forms part of the vast Mâconnais wine region in the department of Saône-et-Loire in southern Burgundy. The Mâconnais hills, with their ideal south-facing aspect, provide the optimum growing conditions for vineyards first planted in the Gallo-Roman period (even if it was only with the rise of the powerful religious institutions of Cluny and Tournus that the region assumed its true importance). Dating from 1937, the AOC “Mâcon-Villages” can be used only by those communes in the administrative district of Mâcon and eleven neighbouring villages. Igé is a small village set on a hillside in the heart of the appellation, half way between Mâcon and Cluny. The surrounding, softly undulating landscape forms a patchwork of copses, green pasture and vineyards carefully placed to receive, earlier than elsewhere in the region, the full benefit of the warm southern climate. A clay-limestone subsoil provides the ideal geological conditions for white wine. With a splendid golden colour, the 2006 Mâcon-Igé is seductive, well-balanced and refreshing, with a pleasant sweetness all of its own. Its aromatic length is the perfect accompaniment to a delicious seasonal entrée.
THIS WINE WAS AWARDED THE COVETED DISTINCTION OF THE TASTEVINAGE IN 2008 BY THE JURY OF THE CONFRÉRIE DU TASTEVIN
CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET 1ER CRU
EN VIRONDOT 2005
This village appellation of 301 hectares includes 19 Premiers Crus and 3 Grand Crus. The vineyards are located on the southern edge of the Côte de Beaune, in the villages of Chassagne-Montrachet (Côte d’Or) and Remigny (Saône-et-Loire). Facing south/east, the vines are planted at a height of 220 to 325 metres. The appellation is divided into red (Pinot Noir) and white (Chardonnay). Chassagne is a corruption of Cassanea from the Latin Cassanus, or oak tree, some fine specimens of which can still be seen in the local vineyards. En Virondot is the highest of Chassagne-Montrachet’s climats, covering two hectares of a steep limestone slope. The parcel of thirty year old white vines resembles nothing so much as a large flat stone lodged on the crest of the hill. Originally the vineyard was planted so as to form a curve or - in old vernacular French - virandiot. Brilliant gold in colour, the 2005 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru En Virondot is fresh and full of flavour, with scents of white flowers and hazelnut. Its attack is direct and tense, then fleshy, with an impressively persistent finish. A well-structured wine, whose blend of minerality and strength owes much to its exceptional balance. This 2005 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru En Virondot provides the ideal accompaniment for shellfish and other noble fish.
MONTHELIE 2003 TASTEVINÉ
Located between Volnay and Auxey-Duresses in the south of the Côte de Beaune, the vineyards of Monthelie form a high semi-circle and are overlooking Meursault. The village is dedicated exclusively to wine production. The name of the village may be a corruption of Mont du Soleil (from the Latin and the Greek Mons-Helios), or it could be from the Celtic Mont-Oloye meaning hill on the road. The vines face south/south-east and east/west between altitudes of 230 and 370 metres. They grow on pebbly Bathonian limestone covered by red clay and marl. This appellation of 119 hectares is producted in both colour : white (chardonnay) and mainly in red (pinot noir). Young, the Monthelie red wine is strongly concentrated, has a good robe and a developing aroma of fully ripe black and red berries. With time, The Monthelie 2003 has now undergrowth and spices notes, soft and subtle tannins, evidence of its exceptional structure. It goes well with typical Burgundian specialties.
THIS WINE WAS AWARDED THE COVETED DISTINCTION OF THE TASTEVINAGE BY THE JURY OF THE CONFRÉRIE IN 2005.
NUITS-SAINT-GEORGES 1ER CRU 2004
LES SAINT-GEORGES - HOSPICES DE NUITS
LES SIRES DE VERY (magnum service)
This appellation of 306 hectares includes 41 Premiers Crus and is situated on the communes of Nuits-Saint-Georges and Premeaux-Prissey. From 245 to 260 metres of altitude, the vineyards mostly face east or south-east. In 1892, the village of Nuits added the name of its most celebrated wine, Les Saint-Georges, to its own, creating Nuits-Saint-Georges. Les Saints-Georges is one of Burgundy’s most venerable vineyards, having been planted with vines since the year 1000. It almost certainly owes its name to the existence of a Christian brotherhood in the locality. In 1023 it was donated to the newly-established religious chapter of Saint-Denis by the chapter’s founder and lord of the manor which included Nuits, Humbert de Vergy. If this named vineyard does not enjoy Grand Cru status, it is only because one of its owners, a Nuits-Saint-Georges wine grower of some eminence and influence at the time the AOC system was being introduced, did not want to be seen to be profiting from his position – a consideration that did not prevent the crew of Apollo XV naming one of the moon’s craters Saint-Georges in the wine’s honour in 1971 ! Situated at the southernmost edge of Nuits-Saint-Georges, the eight hectares that make up Les Saint-Georges produce a rich, firmly structured, complex wine, which successfully harmonises powerfulness and elegance. Over time, its aromas develop a spicy perfume with animal nuances. This Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Saint-Georges 2004 is perfect when served with game.
THIS WINE WAS ACQUIRED BY THE CONFRÉRIE DES CHEVALIERS DU TASTEVIN DURING THE HOSPICES DE NUITS-SAINT-GEORGES’ WINE AUCTION HELD AT THE CHÂTEAU DU CLOS DE VOUGEOT.
CORTON LE ROGNET GRAND CRU 2001
Corton Grand Cru is an extensive appellation of 95 hectares spread over the communes of Aloxe-Corton, Ladoix-Serrigny and Pernand-Vergelesses. The vineyards face south-east/ south-west and rise from 250 to 330 meters to form a picturesque hill known as the Montagne de Corton on the frontier between the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune. The hill is formed of strata of Oxfordian Jurassic limestone. At mid-slope, the soil is reddish and pebbly, with brown limestone rich in marl and potassium, offering everything the Pinot Noir grape variety needs to achieve its full potential. The top of the slope is planted with Chardonnay for the much less well known white Corton. Vinified exclusively from Pinot Noir, red Corton is the Côte de Beaune’s only Grand Cru red wine. The appellation would seem to owe its name to the Roman emperor Othon (Otton), being a contraction of the Frankish curtis (domain) and Othonis. The climat, or named vineyard, Le Rognet (or Le Rognet et Corton) is close to Les Bressandes et Les Renardes, is located in the village of Ladoix-Serrigny, at mid-slope and faces south-east on a pebbly clay-marl soil which produces supple, well-rounded, rich and elegant red wines. The 2001 Corton Grand Cru Le Rognet provides the perfect accompaniment to a richly flavoured selection of fine cheeses.
CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE BRUT ROSÉ
Sparkling wines have been produced in Burgundy since the beginning of the 19th century. Alfred de Musset already mentions them in “Secrètes Pensées de Raphaël”. The Crémant de Bourgogne appellation was created in 1975; it can be made using several varieties of grape: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, also Gamay of white juice, Aligoté, Melon and Sacy. You may have come across white Crémant de Bourgogne as an apéritif, on its own or with a little red fruits liqueur. The Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé is suitable for every occasion and goes particularly well with desserts.
The Chapitre at the Château du Clos de Vougeot was chaired jointly by His Excellency Mr. William RAMSAY, head of the Energy Program at the Institute of Foreign Relations in Paris, and the talented and much loved singer Gilbert MONTAGNE, Commandeur du Tastevin. Representatives from the Saint-Vincent Associations - two winegrowers for each village - contributed greatly to what was a warm-hearted and congenial afternoon.
Picture from Le Bien Public newspaper
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| RESULTS OF THE TASTEVINAGE D'AUTOMNE 2010 |
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Last Friday, more than 260 members of the jury took part in a tasting of 678 Burgundy wines; only 230 will be able to bear the Tastevinage label created 60 years ago.
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